The theft of two sand-laden Hyva trucks from the Rajkanika Tehsil premises has raised serious questions, with suspicion surrounding the role of the Tehsildar.
The Tehsildar is often absent from the office on the pretext of field work. There are no CCTV cameras installed in the tehsil premises.
No complaint was filed at the police station regarding the first theft.
Miscreants cut open the lock of the Rajkanika tehsil gate and, within a gap of 8 days, fled with the seized sand-laden Hyva trucks. According to information, on the 20th of last month, acting on reports of illegal sand transportation from Jajpur via the Olavar route, Tehsildar Bhanumati Majhi along with Mines Department officials seized two sand-laden Hyva trucks and one stone-laden vehicle. Upon verification, it was found that the vehicles were transporting materials without valid documents. All vehicles were kept inside the tehsil premises.
On the night of the 21st, miscreants cut the chain lock of the tehsil gate and took away one sand-laden vehicle. Again, on the night of the 29th, five miscreants managed to cut the gate chain and escape with another sand-laden truck (No. OD 22AD 6399).
When asked, Tehsildar Bhanumati Majhi stated that two FIRs had been filed at Rajkanika police station. However, Rajkanika IIC Sanjay Mallick said that only one complaint had been received from the tehsil.
Questions are being raised as to why no complaint was lodged immediately after the first theft, especially when the police station is just 200 meters away. Despite the presence of two night guards, how the miscreants managed to steal the vehicles remains unclear.
The delay in filing the FIR — no complaint for the theft on the 21st and a complaint only on the 3rd for the theft on the 29th — has further deepened suspicion over the role of the Tehsildar.
After this incident, concerns have also been raised about the safety of important documents, computers worth lakhs, and other valuable items kept in the tehsil office.
Several questions now arise:
- Why was the FIR not filed on the same night of the theft?
- How far were the stolen vehicles allowed to go before action was taken?
- Why was there a delay of five days in filing the complaint?
- What action will be taken against the night guards?
- Is there any involvement or internal nexus behind the theft?
When approached for a response, the Tehsildar refused to comment on camera. Locals have demanded immediate intervention by the District Collector and a proper investigation into the matter.
